Blog Tour: Becoming the Chateran

(Note: This is part of a blog tour. I've gotten to know S. J. Aisling through the GoTeenWriters Facebook group, and can wholly vouch for her awesomeness. Plus, newly published books are epic, so I wanted to spread the word.)

When will Becoming the Chateran be available for purchase, and where can I get it?

~ Becoming the Chateran will be available this December as an ebook and a paperback, and you can buy it via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the website of my publisher, Life Sentence/Aniko Press. In fact, you can preorder your own paperback copy now from the latter location - preordering it will up your chances of getting it in time for Christmas!

*Aniko Press, while a Christian-owned publisher, doesn't consider Becoming the Chateran to be Christian fiction (nor does Stacia), so it's not being marketed as such.



Where did you find inspiration to write Becoming the Chateran?

Years ago while studying medieval times in school, a friend of mine and I pretended we were knightesses (prince/princess, knight/knightess, right?). I was Rhea, and my friend was Hiylienea. We had so much fun with our fantastical adventures that I decided to write everything down so we could remember it all, and so doing created the first draft of Becoming the Chateran. The story has expanded and matured a lot since then, but all the major elements and characters of the original make-believe are still there.



Any hints as to what awaits in the rest of The Chateran Series?
Most of the characters from Becoming the Chateran will reappear throughout the rest of the series, as well as many new ones. I'm personally really excited for this second book of the series to come out, as it will tie up a several loose ends/foreshadowed events from Becoming the Chateran… as well as introducing new conundrums to tease you with. This second book features a shy minstrel girl, an awkward archer, a talking White Stag, revengeful Sídhe, enchained jewelry, and a civil war.



The Chateran Series is medieval fantasy. Have you been doing much research for writing it?

~ For the past seven years and counting I have lived half in this world, and half in that of this series. I've been walking around with a notebook all but attached to me, stuffed with notes about food, geography, clothing, character sketches, scene descriptions, and snatches of poetry and ballads. Tailoring myself costumes based off those my characters wear was one of the most amusing and insightful things I did, as I'd dress up in full rig to act scenes out in my back yard or parks before I wrote them, to make the action and descriptions as accurate as possible. I also tried my hand at archery and horseback riding, proudly became the owner of several encyclopedias on world costume and armor, and studied heraldry and the cultures of multiple medieval cultures. My father is a research scientist. I think it rubbed off on me.



Do you have any tips for fellow writers on staying focused on a story?

~ To me, staying driven to write a book depends on finding the happy medium between planning out what will happen and what they characters are like so you start out with good solid ground under you, and leaving enough out so that even you, the writer, is chaffing at the bit to find out what happens next.

Also, I feel too many writers start out by trying to write what they don't know about, and their lack of knowledge and interest is crippling. But do more than simply write what you know. Write what you are passionate about – readers are smart people, and they'll notice the conviction ringing through your story, and it will touch them as only fervent honesty can. And as a side perk, you're more likely to actually WANT to write, as it will be something you feel/believe strongly about. This automatically makes the whole process a lot easier.



 What did you find surprising about working with your publisher?
~ Aniko Press respected me fully as the illustrator and cover designer/creator. Writing and art have always gone hand in hand for me, so the thought that I might not be in control of the visuals of my book was frustrating. But this was not the case at all. They heard all my ideas and suggestions, and gave me plenty of freedom to illustrate my characters and scenes in the way they appear in my mind. I couldn't be happier!




 Who are some of your favorite literary characters (from which books) and why?
~ I'm just going to have to go with the first two who popped into my mind, because otherwise we'd be here a while. Puddleglum from C. S. Lewis' The Silver Chair (Book 5 of The Chronicles of Narnia): He's brave and hilarious, and ever the optimistic pessimist, always mentioning the worst thing that could happen in a failing attempt to make any bad situation somehow feel better. Another of my favorites is David Balfour from Robert Louis Stevensons' Kidnapped and it's sequel, Catriona. He's honest, somewhat awkward, always tries his best, and is just so utterly human. Not to mention he's Scottish…



Could you give a summary of other books you're working on?
~ Aside from the books following Becoming the Chateran in The Chateran Series, I'm also working on a stand-alone science fantasy/steampunk story called The Phoenix Thief, and Conductive, a sci-fi/paranormal trilogy.

The Phoenix Thief  is about a boy whose only key to his past is in an old notebook, a girl who knows everything about a world she is separated from, a man who lives for revenge, and a friendly automation of armor; a story of a city of machines, a forest of Reavers, and a very special bird.

 Conductive is mainly in it's planning stages, but I'm already quite obsessed with it's characters, the Conductives themselves. Conductives carry enough of the recessive Conductivity Strain to gather energy and store it in their bodies. But unless they learn to control and release the energy, life becomes a struggle, waiting for when the next big shock might come. The rise of visionaries intent on exploiting the Conductive condition to further their goals certainly doesn't make anything easier.

You can learn more about both The Phoenix Thief and Conductive at sjaisling.com.


 What's a crazy thing you've done in the name of writing?
~ I injured myself a while ago, and went into shock. Instead of freaking out and moaning for people to help me, however, I disregarded my bleeding limb and tried to haul myself to a pencil and paper, in order to write down what shock felt like so I could aptly describe it later in a book. As I was also laughing weakly at myself the entire time, I'm afraid I rather frightened everyone who saw me. I'm certain they thought my shock had escalated to delirium.

When Princess Rhea's actions inadvertently condemn innocent knights to death, she wakes to the hard reality that not even royalty is above the law. All her attempts to remedy the situation only complicate it, until she finds herself a fugitive in her own kingdom, having dragged her best friend into the trouble as well. Their only hope for pardon? To accompany Sir Paladin and Sir Zephen in serving their sentence:

Slay, or be slain by, the Dragons of Sama-Ael-Fen.

Travelling incognito, they meet with more malicious Phoenixes than could be coincidental, discover the mysterious disappearance of numerous citizens, and come face to face with a reawakened evil power. With the kingdom of Gemworthy oblivious to the connection of these dangers, it’s up to Rhea and her outlaw companions to stop the rising threat and redeem their names – if they can survive their quest.

~

As the rest of The Chateran Series progresses, the affect of Rhea’s actions and the battle with the Dragons of Sama-Ael-Fen reaches beyond Gemworthy’s borders. The Dragons’ mistress seeks revenge for the damage done to her plans of conquest. Amidst the chaos, Rhea and her companions join forces with a motley troop of other brave men and women, all united by their call to protect their countries and their loved ones. They must learn to overcome their differences, pasts, and fears, and take up the quest of the Scintillatearian Swords to answer the challenge of evil as the Order of the Chateran.

An encouraging tale of friendship, true nobility, and coming of age that young adult readers can relate to, Becoming the Chateran also features over forty illustrations created by the author.




Stacia Joy has always loved to tell stories and invent fictional lands and characters. But she never considered becoming a writer herself until age thirteen, when, inspired by a pretend play she invented with a friend, she wrote the first draft of Becoming the Chateran. The story has since expanded into what will become The Chateran Series. Stacia Joy also writes in several other genres, including steampunk and paranormal/science fiction, and occasionally writes poems about buffalo.

Wanting to show others what her imagined universe looks like, Stacia Joy taught herself to draw by studying the work of illustrators like Alphonse Mucha, Arthur Rackham, Kate Seredy, and Jan Brett. She also received training in illustration and graphic design at Madison Area Technical College, and plans to become a full-fledged freelance illustrator.

When not immersed in writing or art, Stacia Joy spends her time playing the piano and folk harp, composing music, Irish dancing, singing at the top of her lungs, and learning new things. She also enjoys helping with children's ministry at her church, and currently resides in the Madison, Wisconsin area with a kitten named Lord Peter Whimsey.

If you want to contact her, or learn more about her, you can use the following links:

Blog: sjaisling.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SJAislingAuthor

Twitter: twitter.com/sjaisling

Tumblr: sjaisling.tumblr.com

Writing Wrap-Up

You may have noticed that I haven't blogged recently (or rather, for about a month). However, it's been because I've been busy with other enticing writing. I've been working on my memoir, planning my NaNoWriMo novel, and sort-of editing The Tinkers ... But that's not all.

I'm on the NewsTeam of this awesome publication, ThreeSixty Journalism, a Minnesota-wide youth journalism nonprofit, operated out of the University of Saint Thomas. With the NewsTeam, I'm learning how to be a journalist, taking a once-a-week class on reporting basics from interviewing to personal essays. Eventually, I'll be published (and paid for publication) in their print (and online) magazine, published four times a year.

        They also have an Editorial Board, where all of the contributors meet once a month to pitch ideas for the next issue, which I could join in a few months. I've found the contributors' articles to be informative and accurate, so I'm really looking forward to joining the team. ThreeSixty's quite professional, with several editors, who have all worked in journalism themselves, a dedicated team of teenage journalists, and an outreach of more than 10,000 teens, through libraries, schools, and other youth organizations.


Additionally, I'm a first-reader with Polyphony HS, an international literary magazine written and edited solely by high school students. I read submissions that are assigned to me, and write comments, both positive and negative. Although most of the writing submitted is typical high-school writing, there's some pieces that are excellent.

        In finding specifics about what makes a piece excel or fail, and explaining those ideas in a diplomatic matter, I understand the craft so much more, and it's definitely helped my writing. In submitting to Polyphony, all writers get three different students' detailed feedback, much more than I've found at other literary magazines, as well as the standard chance for publication.

Here's to growing as a writer!

Writing Can't Always Happen

I've come to a startling realization, one that may surprise many of you: I can't do everything. I've accepted that, within school and other activities, I can't be perfect. As a total Type-A, I've grown used to juggling school, and sports, and writing, along with food, reading and sleep, and making it seem almost flawless.

This isn't so much an apology as an explanation. Right now, I only have myself to answer to; there aren't any editors or agents making sure I get the next part of my novel done, the next section of my memoir mapped out. Until now, this has worked well. I would just sit down at my clunky computer and write, or edit, and then it would be done.

After all, I've always had very high expectations to myself; if I tell myself I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it to the best of my ability. I'm normally very determined, passionate, and reliable. Lately, there hasn't been time.

Until this year, I didn't really realize what the words "college-preparatory" and "honors" actually meant. It's not that I've lost my passion; writing, and seeing as a writer, is so often on my mind. When I get home at seven at night, after playing tennis for two hours and being in school for seven hours, I still have a full load of homework to do. At this stage of my life, choosing writing over sleep isn't feasible right now. The other duties in my life don't just stop because I want to write for a little longer. I wish I had the luxury to write whenever I pleased, but I don't. At least I know what a full-time job and writing on the side is like.

Additionally, I have no idea what I'm doing. This is the first novel-draft that I've actually had the heart to edit, and the first memoir I've written. Although there are resources, both of these steps definitely aren't a one-size-fits-all. There aren't many memoir resources online, and editing is quite peculiar. I'm so glad I'm doing this, and it's harder than I thought.

I've been doing the best that I can, and it still isn't good enough. No matter how many times I switch my time-zone so it looks like I have an hour or two to write (tempting, I know), there are still only 24 hours in a day. (Yes, I am in honors math. Can't you tell?) I'm trying to avoid burnout, because that wouldn't be good for anything, or anyone, in my life. Sometimes, writing has to be on the back-burner.

Right now, I can't devote much time to writing. I've been taking an unintentional break, and just trying to see the world for whatever it is. I've never been one of those madly-holed-up-in-room writer types; I've been writing for almost two years, and it's always been something I've done late at night, once the day was done, typing out my thoughts and then sleeping. I don't continually isolate myself to write; I've always loved being busy in real life and then stepping back to write, to gain a further understanding of myself and the people around me.

As I've been delving into my memories, I've tried to take breaks and really get into the moment. Last night, on a walk I took, I made sure I noticed the glow of the lampposts on the streets, the jingle of my dog's leash, the pebbled texture of iron-wrought gates (yep, I touch other people's fences. Who doesn't?). I also found out that evergreens are really awful at high-fives. Who knew?

In all seriousness, in the past few weeks, I've realized that there isn't time for everything. More importantly, though, I don't always need to be writing or editing something to be in a writer's state of mind. I get so focused on achieving my goals that sometimes I don't realize that realistically, it doesn't always happen, at least not with the time constraints I give myself.  I've got time, just not now. For now, this is the best I can do. (In the meantime, don't expect any quality writing or planning from me. And just so you know, I shirked finishing a history assignment early to write this. Case in point.)

The Virtues of Imagination: My New Book, Revealed

While I've decided to take a break on my much-beloved novel, I've started a new chapter in my life. As you may know, towards the end of my first draft I get a Brilliant Book Idea, and the last draft was no different. So, this one's pitch is: A Midwestern girl finds herself in the midst of adjusting to her newly-adopted brother, her twin sister's medical issues, and her relationships as she finds out where she can truly put her trust. (Barely functional, current pitch.) Sound familiar? It's about me! Its a bit of an adjustment to write. It even involves remembering, for extended periods of time. Who comes up with this stuff? Crazy, isn't it? Anyways, I digress.

In addition to starting sophomore year, I somehow concluded that I would be the perfect person to write a memoir. Of course, if you'd asked me at that time, I would've given some answer like, "I think it's cool. Plus, life is awesome." Which, of course, is still true, but it's not the full truth.

I've lived an interesting life, but it's been hard. People struggle more than you'd think, whether physically or mentally, and I've only lived fifteen years. However, those years have been fraught with death and  life and love and tears. I've learned just how crazy adoption, and its resulting uncertainty, can be, the meaning of a fresh start (wanted or not), and how to force-feed my twin sister sugar so she stays alive. All of those, by the way, are true. I did tell you I was unconventional.

I've begun writing my memoir, but it'll take me a while. So far, I only have about 3,000 words, though I am working on it, diligently enough for the GTW (Go Teen Writers) 100-for-100 challenge. I'll work on it between edits and drafts for my novels, and the first draft should be completed within a year. Through all of my life, there have been defining events, though the past few have been particularly formative.  I hope as I continue the narrative, a story will take shape. It always has in the past. (You know you're a pantser when you don't know how the story's going to go in your own memoir.)

Although I'm still a novice at the art of memoir (and how well I've learned that in the past two weeks), I've realized one key difference: writing becomes a lot harder when you can't just make stuff up.

Katia

P.S. Isn't my wisdom so brilliant? By the way, once I start editing, I'll be interspersing novel- and memoir- posts, as well as the very occasional book review. Enjoy!

Something Like Hope

                17-year-old Shavonne has been in juvenile detention since the seventh grade. Mr Delpopolo is the first counselor to treat her as an equal, and he helps her get to the bottom of her self-destructive behavior, her guilt about past actions, and her fears about leaving the Center when she turns 18. Shavonne tells him the truth about her crack-addicted mother, the child she had (and gave up to foster care) at fifteen, and the secret shame she feels about what she did to her younger brother after her mother abandoned them.

Meanwhile, Shavonne’s mentally unstable roommate Cinda makes a rash move, and Shavonne’s quick thinking saves her life—and gives her the opportunity to get out of the Center if she behaves well. But Shavonne’s faith is tested when her new roommate, mentally retarded and pregnant Mary, is targeted by a guard as a means to get revenge on Shavonne. As freedom begins to look more and more likely, Shavonne begins to believe that maybe she, like the goslings recently hatched on the Center’s property, could have a future somewhere else—and she begins to feel something like hope.

                I don’t normally read books like this. That is the understatement of the year. After all, who mostly reads about messed-up teenage girls in juvenile detention facilities? Anyway, I digress. The characters were amazing. Even though I have no personal experience with this, Shavonne’s voice captivated me. She was a really strong protagonist, and the side-characters were good as well. I empathized greatly with several of the characters; when you’re in there, everything can, and probably does, seem hopeless. The plot wasn’t predictable, and it was a page-turner. Also, for a middle-aged white guy, he writes black teenage girls really well. The voice was completely accurate. (I assume his background as a school psychologist helped.)

                This isn’t an easy book to read. There’s a lot of swearing, and they all had pretty rough pasts. The characters were so real.  This is a book that makes you think. If you like contemporary or books about detention centers (or even if you don’t), I’d highly recommend it. SOMETHING LIKE HOPE gives an amazing glimpse into the struggles that people nationwide face every day.

The End

This morning, I finished the first draft of The Tinkers. It’s 63,950 words, and 110 pages of single-spaced awesomeness. I’m so glad to finally be done with the first draft, since I’ve been working on it since January and towards the end, I was ready to be done. Still, I’m feeling a bit nostalgic.

Even though at the beginning I had very little plot and cardboard characters, by last night some of the problems were smoothed out and it’s a better read. Not good yet, maybe, but better. I’ve spent so much time in Dem’s head, being sarcastic and grown-up and awesome. The Tinkers was my go-to project; whenever I had a few minutes or an hour to spare, I’d sit down and tell a little more of his story. I’m sure it’s been subconsciously shaped by whatever I’ve been going through as well, so that’ll be interesting to see.  Good thing none of my betas are psychologists, eh?

This is a plot web that I made when I was nearing the end.

As I’ve said so often, writing isn’t easy, especially when you lose 30,000 words due to not backing-up, but the sense of accomplishment one gets is crazy. I’ve been focusing on finishing so much that I’ve neglected blogging, and while I do enjoy blogging, I think the story’s stronger for it. Sure, there are still plot holes and bland characters, but at the end of the day, I wrote a novel, running mainly on chocolate and adrenaline. Now I just have no idea what to do with myself until I can go back and edit it. I’m missing my characters so much. I may have to write my own fan-fiction just to keep myself occupied. J

I will resume blogging this week, and share more character posts and excerpts from The Tinkers in the next few weeks, while I’m giving it a break. I’ve learned a lot about myself through writing this, and whatever happens to it, I’m a better writer for it. And I’ve learned that paralyzing drugs do, indeed, exist.

The Tinkers Excerpt

I haven't posted an excerpt in a very long time, as I've been preparing to finish my novel. Now, with only 10k left, my secrets can be revealed.
Ahem.
I'd love to hear what you think, but keep in mind that this is a first draft, so I will be making it better in the next few months.

***

"I'm--"

"What, Luria?"

"I'm not going to be a Captive," she vows.

"Well, neither will I." We run faster, faster, until we can't hear [the Guards'] footsteps anymore. We dodge through hallways and offices, hoping they won't find us. My heart races. Finally, I see the exit sign glowing in the distance. I sprint towards it, my sides burning. Luria pants, sprinting beside me. I reach the door and press on it, my muscles weary and nervous with adrenaline. Luria's pale eyes glow. We run through the door into a shock of bitter fall air, and then the alert comes.

My watch buzzes. I stop for a minute, just to look at it. I read the message.

"No."

Luria smiles bleakly. "It's true." She pulls her hair back, her face red and flushed from the ride.

"Guess we'd better turn ourselves in."

"I won't."

I nod. "Well, I won't either."

"I knew you wouldn't," Luria says. She shudders, slightly. Goosebumps rise on her arms.

The fear hangs in the air, almost tangible. What if? They'll be coming for us soon. We've got to hide, do something. It doesn't matter. They'll find us anyway. But still. Still.